The next few weeks passed in a blur of official meetings for the team. Social Services evidently wanted to speak to the entire team- Ducky, Abby and Jimmy included- as well as Jenny.

It had been a month since LJ met with Mellissa Redgrave and Ziva was at her final hospital check-up when her phone rang. She smiled when she looked at her screen, confirming her suspicion that it was Gibbs calling.

"Hey." She answered softly as she walked out the main entrance and made her way to her car.

"How'd it go?" Gibbs asked caringly. Ziva smiled.

"Fine. They have given me the all clear. My ribs and cheek bone have healed nicely, no lasting damage."

Gibbs sighed in relief. "Good. That's good."

Ziva shook her head, a gentle smile curving her lips. "We expected nothing less. I have not felt pain in more than a week."

"I know."

Ziva heard metal groaning quietly down the line. "Are you in the elevator?"

Gibbs chuckled lightly, running a slightly apprehensive hand round the back of his neck. "Yeah."

Something in his voice had her a little concerned.

"Why?" She asked slowly.

"Got a call. From Mellissa Redgrave." Ziva immediately sat up straighter, her full attention now on their conversation.

"And?" She asked quietly, nervously.

"She wants to talk to us, together, in an hour." Ziva looked at her watch.

"I will be there in twenty. What do you think she wants?" Gibbs shrugged.

"Didn't say." Ziva took a deep breath and started her car with her spare hand.

"Okay. I will be there shortly."


Ziva and Gibbs were already sat in the conference room when Abby came up to the bullpen looking for Gibbs.

"Tony!" Abby cried excitedly. "Where's Gibbs? I have results for him!" Tony smiled tightly. "What happened?" She asked, suddenly all business as she grabbed Ziva's chair and sat between both agents still in the bullpen.

"He and Ziva have been in a meeting with someone from CPS for the last ten minutes."

"I thought Ziva was at the hospital this morning?" Abby asked looking from Tony to Tim.

"She was. She got the all clear. She took it to the Director before she and Gibbs went into the Conference Room. They both looked pretty nervous." Tim filled in. Tony scoffed.

"Nervous McUnderstatment? They were holding hands. Ziva looked as pale as I've ever seen her." Abby gasped.

"Do you think it's bad? LJ and Ethan need to stay with them. If they don't they'll go in the system. Not that there's necessarily anything bad about that. But they might hate it. Or get separated. What if they never see each other again. Or us."

"Abby." Tony called, breaking her from her ramblings. "Whatever happens, you know Gibbs will fight to keep them, or at least keep them together." Abby nodded slowly.

"So what do you think they're talking about?" Both men shrugged as the scientist turned to them.

"Don't know. We'll find out soon enough though." Tony reassured her. "So, you said you had results?" Abby nodded, some of her usual bounce returning.


Gibbs and Ziva both shook Ms Redgrave's hand before leaving her to the agent assigned to chaperone her through the building. The moment she was out of sight, Ziva leaned into Gibbs' chest, wrapping her arms around his waist tightly.

"You okay?" He asked softly, holding her tight, revelling in the ability to do so without worrying.

She nodded into his shirt before pulling back slightly. "Come, we must go see Jenny." Gibbs held fast when Ziva tried to move away. "Jethro?" She asked concernedly.

"Let me just hold ya for a minute?" Ziva smiled and snuggled back into his body, humming softly in contentment when he held her only closer. "Missed this." Ziva smiled against him.

"Me too." She assured him on a sigh.


Ziva insisted on knocking, much to the secretary's amusement, and waited until the director called them in. Gibbs followed murmuring quietly about how it was a waste of time knocking if you knew she wasn't busy.

"You asked to see us, Director?" Ziva started, slightly less sure of herself than usual. Jenny smiled softly.

"How did the meeting go?" She asked, looking from one to the other.

"Not bad." Gibbs told her, moving marginally closer to Ziva when he noticed that she was still shaking slightly; it had started just before the meeting and was apparently yet to dissipate, adrenalin still flooding her system.

"Well I have just received a call from Ms Redgrave's boss." Jenny continued, not missing but feeling no need to comment, on Gibbs' move or Ziva's trembling.

Ziva smiled tightly. "And?"

Jenny chuckled.

"Don't look so nervous Ziva." She smiled. "I was informed of their decision." She looked from one agent to the other before reaching for two sheets of paper from in front of her and holding them out. Neither agent moved. "I have taken the liberty of filling them in and signing them off for you." Gibbs moved first, taking the sheet that bore his name. "It is a leave request for two weeks. Seeing as you both seem adverse to taking your vacation days, you have more than enough to cover it."

Ziva smiled brightly and Gibbs gave a relieved chuckle beside her. "So, sign the bottom and as of the end of the day today, you both have two weeks leave." Ziva took her form and leaned over the desk to sign her name. "I expect this new arrangement not to affect your work negatively."

"Plenty of agents have kids." Gibbs said, handing back the form.

"I am aware. And I know you will both try your hardest to make Lauren and Ethan as happy as possible."

Ziva shook her head disbelievingly, still not sure this was ever going to sink in, trying not to let the happy tears fall while Gibbs smiled and gently kissed her temple.

"Thanks Jen." Jenny shook her head, taking Ziva's form.

"Not at all Jethro. Now go. I do believe Miss Sciuto may have just solved your case."